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Three Simple Words…Three Powerful Words

“It is over.” These words reverberated over and over in my mind as I woke up early one morning unable to fall back asleep. A family member had just been diagnosed the day before with a stroke. This relative had been left with various side effects. Due to her age, complete recovery was not expected. “It is over.” I could not shake these words that filled my heart with hope. There had been so many heartaches and challenging health issues for years—release would be a blessing even through the sorrow of loss.

“It is finished.” These words uttered by Jesus were His last as a few friends and His mother despaired beneath the cross. Most of the disciples had scattered, facing disbelief that their Master was being crucified, and as followers feared for their very lives. For these men, no opportunity existed to save their Master and friend. “It is finished” meant no hope, no future, no pathway forward. The few that heard His last three words could not shake the heartache they now felt. There had been so much promise in Jesus. With these final words, they faced the gravity of their loss.

“It is over.” These words soon became indistinct. Just over four weeks after this relative’s stroke as the physical effects subsided, I questioned God about the meaning of these three words. She was gaining strength and appeared to be recovering. I had been certain that “it is over” referred to physical death. My feelings of release evaporated, leading me back into the entrapment of trying to please her and make sense of her demands. What was I missing in believing that “it is over?”

“It is finished.” These words filled grief-stricken hearts with agony. Darkness occupied their hearts while physical darkness permeated the atmosphere. The light seemed to have disappeared along with any hope for the future. To go on without their son and friend, the One who had touched so many lives, was incomprehensible. After all, Jesus was accused falsely and was innocent. They had to have questioned God about the twist of events. It was earlier in the week that the crowds had shouted, “Hallelujah” as Jesus road a donkey into Jerusalem. Something had gone terribly wrong, and their hope died along with Jesus. What were His followers missing in understanding “it is finished?”

Have you ever
wondered what God is up to? Have you
ever doubted His leading? Have you ever
felt confused or totally lost about the course of direction that situations
were taking even after diligent prayer? If
you are anything like me or the disciples, there are times when you fail to totally comprehend the significance of God’s Word spoken
directly into your life. For me
personally, I end up questioning what I hear instead of trusting the One who said
them—even three simple words.

This passage from
Luke 14: 25-27 has always been somewhat of a challenge for me:

25 Many people were
traveling with Jesus. He said to them, 26 “If you
come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must
love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and
sisters—even more than your own life!”

For years, I have
struggled to preserve my relationship with my step-mother. I felt it was my responsibility to be there
for her because I do appreciate all that she did for my brother and I as we
were growing up after my birth mother passed away when I was 10 years old. What I often confused was my allegiance to
her over my allegiance to following Jesus.
I now believe that the words, “It is over,” that came to me many times through the course of
several weeks, were
for me personally, not her physical circumstance. I had to
face the truth that I was unable to meet her physical and mental needs. She was now, as she always had been, in His
hands. The Lord had other plans for me
if I would release my ties with her and love Him more through the process,
allowing Him to be first.

“It is over.” These words meant life not death. I finally came to realize that the words held truth. I had done ALL I was supposed to do for my step-mother. The words held a bigger plan than my human mind could fathom, but obedience was necessary to move forward. “It is over” was actually the summation of a new beginning. Never letting go means not trusting God’s words, not following the plans He has for me. The Lord continually desires to give purpose and bring peace to a wavering child, like you or me, even when we get three simple words confused along the way.

“It is finished.” These words meant life not death. Those at the foot of the cross misunderstood, but Jesus’ words were truth. Jesus did exactly what He set out to do—He accomplished His mission on earth. He paid the price at His death for their sin –not only for His followers over 2000 years ago but for you and me—our sins. Those words “It is finished” were a final summation of a life well-lived. Those words are for every human being who has ever lived or yet to be born. Listen to the message in those words, “It is finished.” They proclaimed a promise of redemption and grace. You and I live because Jesus finished His life on a cross.

Three simple words transitioned
into three powerful words on Easter morning:

“After the Sabbath, at dawn
on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went
to look at the tomb. 2 There
was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from
heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it… 5 The angel said to the
women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who
was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He
has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There
you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” Matthew 28:1-7

The Easter message is truth—resurrection is always possible with Jesus. He paid the price, and the glorious three words that need to pierce our hearts anew this Easter proclaim that death is defeated. “He Is Risen!” May those words lead you to love Jesus, the Savior of the World, more than ever before. Follow Him! “He is Risen!”

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3 thoughts on “Three Simple Words…Three Powerful Words”

Life from death…how can this be, but how amazing Jesus shows us it is through Him! Thanks for encouraging me to appreciate Jesus’s forgiveness and resurrection leading us to everlasting life as well as how He helps us move forward in life here on earth when He shows us some aspect of life is over. May you and yours have a wonderful Easter celebration, also.

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I am just Kathy--a teacher by profession, a writer at heart, a lover of nature. I am a wife, a mother, a gramma, a book lover, a gardener, an exerciser, and a plethora of all things in between. I have lived in rural Missouri, the bustling suburbs of Chicago, and have now joined the southern ranks of South Carolina. After retirement, I even experienced Nicaragua close-up for a year working along side my husband on the mission field. Yet I am a woman who struggles with finding purpose after a successful career, who desires to use my God-given talent of writing to honor God and who needs more GRACE in my life to sustain me.
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Everyday Grace

Giving Oneself GRACE--letting yourself off the hook.
God's GRACE -- unmerited & unearned --the greatest gift.
GRACE is something we all need everyday of our lives. I believe in our complicated, busy world we fail to seek out the blessings that can be ours if only our hearts and minds are open to the concept of GRACE.
GRACE can renew, restore and revive -- GRACE can appear in the midst of any extra-ORDINARY, AVERAGE, RUN-OF-THE-MILL day...the wonders of GRACE can be found in the midst of any everyday journey.